شَيّعـتُI bade farewell to أَحْـلامـيmy dreams بقلـبٍwith a heart بـاكِweeping
شَيّعـتُ أَحْـلامـي بقلـبٍ بـاكِ
ولَمَحتُand I glimpsed منfrom طُرُقthe paths of المِـلاحِthe beauties شِباكـيmy nets
ولَمَحتُ من طُرُق المِـلاحِ شِباكـي
I bade my dreams farewell with a weeping heart,
With a grieving heart, I bid my dreams farewell
And from the beauties' paths I glimpsed my nets.
And glimpsed the nets of fate upon my path
ورجـعـتُand I turned back أَدراجَthe paths of الشبـابyouth ووِرْدَهand its roses
ورجـعـتُ أَدراجَ الشبـاب ووِرْدَه
أَمشيI walk مكانَهمـاin their place علـىupon الأَشـواكِthe thorns
أَمشي مكانَهمـا علـى الأَشـواكِ
And turned back from the paths of youth and its roses,
I returned to the roses and bliss of youth
Now walking in their place upon thorns.
To walk where once they bloomed, on thorns and shards
وبجـانبِـيand beside me واهٍa frail one كـأَنas though خُفـوقَـهits beating
وبجـانبِـي واهٍ كـأَن خُفـوقَـه
لَمـاwhen تلفَّـتَit looked back جَهْشَـةُthe sob of المُتبـاكـيone forcing tears
لَمـا تلفَّـتَ جَهْشَـةُ المُتبـاكـي
And beside me was a frail heart, whose beating seemed—
Beside me, a sigh like a bereft lover’s moan
When it looked back—like the sob of one forcing tears.
When the weeping one turned in sudden grief
شاكِيfully equipped السلاحِwith weapons إذاwhen خـلاit is alone بضلوعـهwithin its ribs
شاكِي السلاحِ إذا خـلا بضلوعـه
فإذاbut when أُهيـبَa call was made بـهto it فليـسthen it is not بـشـاكِarmed
فإذا أُهيـبَ بـه فليـس بـشـاكِ
Fully armed when alone within its ribs,
Complaining of arms, when left devoid of ribs
But when called upon, it is not armed.
Uncomplaining if summoned, no longer bereft
قدindeed راعـهalarmed it أَنـيthat I طوَيْـتُfolded up حبائلـيmy snares
قد راعـه أَنـي طوَيْـتُ حبائلـي
منfrom بعـدafter طـولa long spell of تنـاولٍcatching وفكـاكِand release
من بعـد طـول تنـاولٍ وفكـاكِ
It was alarmed that I had folded up my snares,
It troubled me that I folded up my bonds
After much catching and release.
After long entanglement and release
وَيْحَalas for ابنِthe son of جَنْبـيmy side ؟ كلُّevery غايـةِheight of لـذَّةٍpleasure
وَيْحَ ابنِ جَنْبـي ؟ كلُّ غايـةِ لـذَّةٍ
بعـدَafter الشبـابِyouth عـزيـزةُhard of الإدراكِattainment
بعـدَ الشبـابِ عـزيـزةُ الإدراكِ
Alas for the son of my side! Every height of pleasure
Woe to the son of my flank! Each pleasurable end
After youth is hard to attain.
After youth is difficult to attain
لـمnot تَبـقَremains منَّاof us ، ياO فـؤادُheart ، بقيّـةٌa remnant
لـم تَبـقَ منَّا ، يا فـؤادُ ، بقيّـةٌ
لـفـتـوّةٍfor youthful vigor ، أَوor فَضلـةٌa reserve لـعِـراكِfor struggle
لـفـتـوّةٍ ، أَو فَضلـةٌ لـعِـراكِ
No remnant of us remains, O heart,
Nothing of us remains, O heart, no residue
For youthful vigor, nor any reserve for struggle.
Of chivalry, nor any fight to recollect
كناwe used to إذاwhen صفَّقْـتَyou clapped نستبـقrace ahead toward الـهوىlove
كنا إذا صفَّقْـتَ نستبـق الـهوى
ونَشُـدُّand we charge شَـدَّthe charge of العُصبـةِthe band of الـفُتَّـاكِruthless fighters
ونَشُـدُّ شَـدَّ العُصبـةِ الـفُتَّـاكِ
When you clapped, we used to race toward love,
When you would clap, we would race to passion’s call
And charge like a band of ruthless fighters.
And pull the deadly horde’s taut bowstrings
واليومَand today تبعـثyou awaken فـيّin me حيـنwhen تَهُزُّنـيyou stir me
واليومَ تبعـث فـيّ حيـن تَهُزُّنـي
مـاwhat يبعـثawakens الناقـوسُthe bell فِيin النُّسّـاكِthe monks
مـا يبعـث الناقـوسُ فِي النُّسّـاكِ
Today, when you stir me, you awaken in me
Today, when you shake me, you evoke in me
What the bell awakens in monks.
What the bell invokes in monks sequestered
ياO جارةَneighbor of الواديthe valley ، طَرِبْـتُI was enraptured وعادنـيand it revisited me
يا جارةَ الوادي ، طَرِبْـتُ وعادنـي
ماwhat يشبـهُresembles الأَحـلامَdreams مـنfrom ذكـراكِremembering you
ما يشبـهُ الأَحـلامَ مـن ذكـراكِ
O neighbor of the valley, I was enraptured, and back to me came
O dweller of the valley, you have stirred me so
Something dreamlike from the memory of you.
Phantom dreams return to memory
مَثَّلْتُI pictured فِيin الذِكْرَىmemory هَواكِlove for you وفِيand in الكَرَىsleep
مَثَّلْتُ فِي الذِكْرَى هَواكِ وفِي الكَرَى
والذِّكرياتُand memories صَدَىthe echo of السّنينَthe years الحَاكـيthat recounts
والذِّكرياتُ صَدَى السّنينَ الحَاكـي
I pictured love for you in memory and in sleep;
In remembrance I formed your love, and in illusion
Memories are the years' recounting echo.
As memories echo the telling years
ولقدand indeed مررتُI passed علىby الريـاضthe gardens برَبْـوَةٍon a hill
ولقد مررتُ على الريـاض برَبْـوَةٍ
غَـنَّـاءَlush كنـتُI used to حِيالَهـاbefore it أَلقـاكِmeet you
غَـنَّـاءَ كنـتُ حِيالَهـا أَلقـاكِ
I passed the gardens on a hill,
And I passed by meadows, once a singing girl
Lush and leafy, before which I used to meet you.
Whose throat I circled with my braceleted arms
ضحِكَتْsmiled إلـيَّat me وجُوههاtheir faces وعيونُهـاand their eyes
ضحِكَتْ إلـيَّ وجُوهها وعيونُهـا
ووجـدْتُand I found فِـيin أَنفاسهـاtheir breaths ريّـاكِyour fragrance
ووجـدْتُ فِـي أَنفاسهـا ريّـاكِ
Their faces and eyes smiled at me,
Her faces and eyes smiled at me, and in her breath
And in their breaths I found your fragrance.
I found the scent of you, the draught of your wine
فذهبتُso I journeyed فِيthrough الأَيـامthe days أَذكـرrecalling رَفْرَفـاًa canopy
فذهبتُ فِي الأَيـام أَذكـر رَفْرَفـاً
بيـنamong الجـداولِthe streams والعيـونِand the springs حَـواكِthat sheltered you
بيـن الجـداولِ والعيـونِ حَـواكِ
So I wandered back through the days, recalling a canopy
After that, I wandered days remembering
That sheltered you among streams and springs.
A butterfly between streams and fountains flying
أَذكَرْتِdo you remember هَرْوَلَةَthe hurried running of الصبابـةِlonging والـهوىand love
أَذكَرْتِ هَرْوَلَةَ الصبابـةِ والـهوى
لـماwhen خَطَـرْتِyou walked swaying يُقبِّـلانthey both kissed خُطـاكِyour footsteps ؟
لـما خَطَـرْتِ يُقبِّـلان خُطـاكِ ؟
Do you remember the eager running of longing and love,
Do you remember the racing of youth and passion
When you walked swaying, and they kissed your footsteps?
When they neared to kiss the hem of your gown?
لمnot أَدرI knew ماwhat طِيبُthe sweetness of العِناقِembracing علىin الـهوىlove
لم أَدر ما طِيبُ العِناقِ على الـهوى
حتـىuntil ترفَّـقgrew gentle ساعـديmy forearm فطـواكِthen enfolded you
حتـى ترفَّـق ساعـدي فطـواكِ
I did not know the sweetness of an embrace in love
I knew not the sweetness of embracing desire
Until my arm grew gentle and enfolded you.
Until my arms encircled your slender waist
وتأَوَّدَتْand swayed أَعطـافُthe curves of بانِكyour ban-tree form فِيin يـديmy hand
وتأَوَّدَتْ أَعطـافُ بانِك فِي يـدي
واحـمرّand reddened مـنfrom خَفَرَيْهمـاthe bashfulness of them both خـدّاكِyour two cheeks
واحـمرّ مـن خَفَرَيْهمـا خـدّاكِ
The curves of your ban-tree form swayed in my hand,
And your supple sides nestled into my hands
And your cheeks reddened with their bashfulness.
As your reddened cheeks darkened in shyness
ودخَلْتُand I entered فِيinto ليلينtwo nights: فَرْعِكyour tresses والدُّجـىand the darkness
ودخَلْتُ فِي ليلين: فَرْعِك والدُّجـى
ولثمـتُand I kissed كالصّبـحlike the dawn المنـوِّرِradiant فـاكِyour mouth
ولثمـتُ كالصّبـح المنـوِّرِ فـاكِ
I entered two nights: your tresses and the darkness,
Entering gentleness – your tresses and the nightfall –
And, like the radiant dawn, I kissed your mouth.
I kissed your radiant mouth like the dawning
ووجدْتُand I found فِيin كُنْهِthe depths of الجوانـحِthe breast نَشْـوَةًrapture
ووجدْتُ فِي كُنْهِ الجوانـحِ نَشْـوَةً
منfrom طيبthe sweetness of فيكyour mouth ، ومنand from سُلافthe choicest wine of لَمَـاكِyour dusky lips
من طيب فيك ، ومن سُلاف لَمَـاكِ
Deep within my breast I found rapture,
And found in the essence of your wings a bliss
From your mouth's sweetness and the choice wine of your dusky lips.
From your sweetness, and the smooth nectar of your lips
وتعطَّلَتْand fell silent لغـةُthe language of الكـلامِspeech وخاطبَـتْand addressed
وتعطَّلَتْ لغـةُ الكـلامِ وخاطبَـتْ
عَيْنَـيَّmy eyes فِيin لُغَـةthe language of الـهَوىlove عينـاكِyour eyes
عَيْنَـيَّ فِي لُغَـة الـهَوى عينـاكِ
The language of speech fell silent, and there spoke
The language of words fell silent, and your eyes spoke
Your eyes to mine, in the language of love.
To mine in the idiom of passionate desire
ومَحَوْتُand I erased كلَّevery لُبانـةٍdesire منfrom خاطـريmy mind
ومَحَوْتُ كلَّ لُبانـةٍ من خاطـري
ونَسِيـتُand I forgot كلَّevery تَعاتُـبٍmutual reproach وتَشاكـيand mutual complaint
ونَسِيـتُ كلَّ تَعاتُـبٍ وتَشاكـي
I erased every desire from my mind,
I erased all coquetry from my mind
And forgot every mutual reproach and complaint.
And forgot all reproach and contention
لاno أَمسِyesterday منfrom عمرِthe life of الزمـانtime ولاand no غَـدtomorrow
لا أَمسِ من عمرِ الزمـان ولا غَـد
جُمِعwas gathered الزمانُtime فكـانand it became يـومَthe day of رِضـاكِyour favor
جُمِع الزمانُ فكـان يـومَ رِضـاكِ
There was no yesterday in time's life, nor any tomorrow;
No past or future, just the days of your acceptance
All time was gathered into the day of your favor.
Time gathered into one day of pleasure
لُبنانُLebanon ، ردّتنـيbrought me back إليكَto you مـنfrom النـوىseparation
لُبنانُ ، ردّتنـي إليكَ مـن النـوى
أَقـدارُthe fates of سَـيْـرٍa course للـحـيـاةِof life دَرَاكِunceasing
أَقـدارُ سَـيْـرٍ للـحـيـاةِ دَرَاكِ
Lebanon, from separation I was brought back to you
Lebanon, the turns of fateful journeys
By the fates of life's unceasing course.
Have returned me to you from my pining
جمعَتْreunited نزيلَيْthe two dwellers on ظَهرِهـاits back مـنfrom فُرقـةٍseparation
جمعَتْ نزيلَيْ ظَهرِهـا مـن فُرقـةٍ
كُـرَةٌa ball وراءَbehind صَـوالـجِthe mallets of الأَفــلاكِthe celestial spheres
كُـرَةٌ وراءَ صَـوالـجِ الأَفــلاكِ
Two dwellers on its back were reunited after parting
It gathered us two exiles on its ridge
By a ball driven by the mallets of the celestial spheres.
A globe behind the celestial spheres
نـمشيwe walk عليهاupon it فوقَabove كـلِّevery فجـاءَةsudden surprise
نـمشي عليها فوقَ كـلِّ فجـاءَة
كالطيرlike birds فـوقَabove مَكامِـنِthe hiding places of الأَشـراكِthe snares
كالطير فـوقَ مَكامِـنِ الأَشـراكِ
We walk upon it, above every sudden surprise,
We walk upon it over all calamity
Like birds above the hiding places of snares.
Like birds above the haunts of predators
ولوand if أَنّthat بالشوقthrough longing الـمزارُthe visit وجدتنـيyou would find me
ولو أَنّ بالشوق الـمزارُ وجدتنـي
مُلْقيsetting down الرحالِthe baggage علىupon ثَـراكyour soil الذاكـيfragrant
مُلْقي الرحالِ على ثَـراك الذاكـي
And if longing could bring a visit, you would find me
And if longing brought me to your brilliant tomb
Setting down my baggage upon your fragrant soil.
To rest my feet at your grave, my dear
بِنْـتَdaughter of البِقـاعthe Beqaa وأُمَّand mother of بَـرَBar- (name fragment) دُونِـيِّـهاits -dawni (name fragment)
بِنْـتَ البِقـاع وأُمَّ بَـرَ دُونِـيِّـها
طِيبيflourish كجِلَّـقَlike Jillaq ، واسكنـيand dwell by بَـرداكِyour Barada
طِيبي كجِلَّـقَ ، واسكنـي بَـرداكِ
Daughter of the Beqaa and mother of its Bardawni,
Child of the plains, mother to its gently sloping hills
Flourish like Jillaq, and dwell by your Barada.
Sweet as apricot, dwell in your coldness
ودِمَشْقُand Damascus جَنَّـاتُthe gardens of النعيـمbliss ،وإنـماand yet
ودِمَشْقُ جَنَّـاتُ النعيـم ،وإنـما
أَلفَيْـتُI found سُـدَّةَthe gateway to عَـدْنِهِـنَّtheir Eden رُبـاكِyour hills
أَلفَيْـتُ سُـدَّةَ عَـدْنِهِـنَّ رُبـاكِ
Damascus is the gardens of bliss, yet
And Damascus is the garden of bliss
I found your hills to be the gateway to their Eden.
Yet I fancied the elite of Eden your peers
قَسَماًI swear لوif انتمتdeclared their lineage الـجداولthe streams والرُّبـاand the hills
قَسَماً لو انتمت الـجداول والرُّبـا
لتهلَّـلwould beam الفـردوسُParadise ، ثـمَّthen نَمـاكِclaim you as its offspring
لتهلَّـل الفـردوسُ ، ثـمَّ نَمـاكِ
I swear: if streams and hills declared their lineage,
By heaven, if the streams and hills professed faith
Paradise would beam, then claim you as its offspring.
Paradise would rejoice, then sleep by your side
مَـرْآكِyour appearance مَـرْآهits appearance وَعَيْنُـكِand your eye عَيْـنُـهits eye
مَـرْآكِ مَـرْآه وَعَيْنُـكِ عَيْـنُـه
لِـمْwhy ياO زُحَيْلـةُZuhayla لاnot يكـونbe أَبـاكِyour father ؟
لِـمْ يا زُحَيْلـةُ لا يكـون أَبـاكِ ؟
Your aspect is its aspect, and your eye its eye;
Your mirror is its mirror, your eye its eye
Why, O Zuhayla, should it not be your father?
Why, O Zahle, can your father not be mine?
تلـكthose الكُـرومُvineyards بقيَّـةٌa remnant مـنof بابـلٍBabylon
تلـك الكُـرومُ بقيَّـةٌ مـن بابـلٍ
هَيْهَـاتَfar from it! نَسَّـىmade one forget البابلـيَّBabylonian wine جَنـاكِyour fruit
هَيْهَـاتَ! نَسَّـى البابلـيَّ جَنـاكِ
Those vineyards are a remnant of Babylon.
Those vineyards are vestiges of Babylon
Far from it! Your fruit has made us forget Babylonian wine.
Alas! Babylon forgot your embraced one
تُبْدِيdisplay كَوَشْيِlike the embroidery of الفُرْسِthe Persians أَفْتَـنَthe most enchanting صِبْغـةٍcoloring
تُبْدِي كَوَشْيِ الفُرْسِ أَفْتَـنَ صِبْغـةٍ
للناظـريـنto those gazing إلـىat أَلَـذِّthe most delightful of حِـيـاكِyour woven robes
للناظـريـن إلـى أَلَـذِّ حِـيـاكِ
They display, like Persian embroidery, the most enchanting coloring
You show, like the markings of a mare, the most beautiful
To those gazing upon your most delightful woven robes:
Coloring to all who look upon your sweetest life
خَرَزاتِbeads of مِسْكٍmusk ، أَوor عُقودَnecklaces of الكهربـاamber
خَرَزاتِ مِسْكٍ ، أَو عُقودَ الكهربـا
أُودِعْـنَwere set كافـوراًcamphor مـنof الأَسـلاكِthe threads
أُودِعْـنَ كافـوراً مـن الأَسـلاكِ
Beads of musk, or necklaces of amber,
Necklaces of musk, or braids of camphor
Set within camphor-white threads.
Were gathered into whiteness on your throat
فكَّرْتُI thought فِيof لَبَـنِthe milk of الجِنـانِParadise's gardens وخمرِهـاand their wine
فكَّرْتُ فِي لَبَـنِ الجِنـانِ وخمرِهـا
لـماwhen رأَيْتُI saw الـماءَthe water مَـسَّtouched طِـلاكِyour wine
لـما رأَيْتُ الـماءَ مَـسَّ طِـلاكِ
I thought of the milk and wine of Paradise
When I saw water touch your chin, I pondered
When I saw the water touch your wine.
The wine and milk of the gardens within
لـمnot أَنْسَI forgot منamong هِبَةِthe gifts of الزمـانِtime عَشِيَّـةًan evening
لـم أَنْسَ من هِبَةِ الزمـانِ عَشِيَّـةً
سَلَفَتْpassed بظلِّـكِin your shade وانقضَـتْand ended بِـذَراكِon your heights
سَلَفَتْ بظلِّـكِ وانقضَـتْ بِـذَراكِ
I have not forgotten an evening among time's gifts,
I have not forgotten from time's gift an evening
That passed in your shade and ended on your heights.
That passed in your shade and ended at your threshold
كُنتِyou were العروسَthe bride علىupon مِنصَّةthe dais of جِنْحِـهاits dusk
كُنتِ العروسَ على مِنصَّة جِنْحِـها
لُبنانُLebanon فِيin الوَشْـيِbrocade الكريـمsplendid جَـلاكِunveiled you
لُبنانُ فِي الوَشْـيِ الكريـم جَـلاكِ
You were the bride upon the dais of its dusk;
You were the bride upon the winged litter
Lebanon unveiled you in splendid brocade.
As Lebanon carried your precious self
يـمشيmoves إليكِtoward you اللّحظُthe gaze فِيthrough الديباجbrocade أَوor
يـمشي إليكِ اللّحظُ فِي الديباج أَو
فِيthrough العاجivory منfrom أَيwhichever الشِّعـابِmountain ravines أَتـاكِit came to you
فِي العاج من أَي الشِّعـابِ أَتـاكِ
The gaze makes its way to you through brocade, or
The moment walks to you in brocade or ivory
Through ivory, from whichever mountain ravine it comes.
From whatever mountain pass leading to your abode
ضَمَّـتْfolded ذراعيْـهاher two arms الطبيعـةُNature رِقَّـةًtenderly
ضَمَّـتْ ذراعيْـها الطبيعـةُ رِقَّـةً
صِنِّيـنَSannine والحَـرَمُـونَand Hermon فاحتضنـاكِso they both embraced you
صِنِّيـنَ والحَـرَمُـونَ فاحتضنـاكِ
Nature tenderly folded her two arms,
Nature embraced the pine and oak in tenderness
Sannine and Hermon, and they embraced you.
To shelter and cradle you in their arms
والبـدرُand the full moon فِيin ثَبَـجthe midst of السمـاءِthe sky مُنَـوِّرٌshining
والبـدرُ فِي ثَبَـج السمـاءِ مُنَـوِّرٌ
سالتflowed حُلاهits adornments علىupon الثـرىthe earth وحُـلاكِand your adornments
سالت حُلاه على الثـرى وحُـلاكِ
The full moon shone in the midst of the sky;
The full moon in the heavens' fabric sprinkled
Its splendor flowed over the earth and your adornments.
Its ornaments upon the soil and you alike
والنيِّـراتand the bright stars مـنfrom السحـابthe clouds مُطِلَّـةٌpeering out
والنيِّـرات مـن السحـاب مُطِلَّـةٌ
كالغِيـدlike graceful maidens منfrom behind سِتْـرٍa curtain ومـنand from شُبّـاكِa window
كالغِيـد من سِتْـرٍ ومـن شُبّـاكِ
The bright stars peered out from the clouds,
The lamps of stars gaze down from clouds
Like graceful maidens from behind a curtain and a window.
Like hands parting veils and latticework
وكأَنَّand as though كـلَّevery ذُؤابـةٍcrest مـنof شاهِـقٍa lofty peak
وكأَنَّ كـلَّ ذُؤابـةٍ مـن شاهِـقٍ
كنُa shelter for الـمجرَّةِthe Milky Way أَوor جـدارُa wall for سِمـاكِSimak
كنُ الـمجرَّةِ أَو جـدارُ سِمـاكِ
As though every crest of a towering peak
Each towering tree like a nebula
Were the Milky Way's shelter, or a wall for Simak.
Or a wall constructed of immense bricks
سكنَتْgrew still نواحـيthe reaches of الليـلِthe night ، إلاexcept أَنَّـةًa moan
سكنَتْ نواحـي الليـلِ ، إلا أَنَّـةً
فِيin الأَيْكِthe grove، أَوor وَتَرa string اًشَجِـيَّplaintive حَـراكِvibration
فِي الأَيْكِ، أَو وَتَر اًشَجِـيَّ حَـراكِ
The reaches of night grew still, save for a moan
The regions of night grew still, but for
In the grove, or a string whose vibration was plaintive.
A vibration in the boughs, or a wakeful string’s refrain
شرفاًhonor to you ، عروسَbride of الأَرْزthe cedars ، كلُّevery خريـدةٍvirgin beauty
شرفاً ، عروسَ الأَرْز ، كلُّ خريـدةٍ
تـحتَbeneath السماءِthe sky منamong البـلادthe lands فِـداكِa ransom for you
تـحتَ السماءِ من البـلاد فِـداكِ
Honor to you, bride of the cedars! Every virgin beauty
Glory, O cedar bride, to you above all else
Among the lands beneath the sky is a ransom for you.
Under the sky, from the realms your ransom
رَكَـزplanted البيـانُeloquence علـىupon ذراكyour heights لـواءَهits banner
رَكَـز البيـانُ علـى ذراك لـواءَه
ومشىand walked ملـوكُthe kings of الشعـرpoetry فِيin مَغنـاكِyour abode
ومشى ملـوكُ الشعـر فِي مَغنـاكِ
Eloquence planted its banner on your heights,
Eloquence planted its banner in your earth
And the kings of poetry walked in your abode.
And the kings of verse walked in your valleys
أُدباؤكِyour writers الزُّهرُradiant الشمـوسُthe suns ، ولاand not أَرىI see
أُدباؤكِ الزُّهرُ الشمـوسُ ، ولا أَرى
أَرضاًa land تَمَخَّضُgiving birth بالشمـوسto suns سِـواكِother than you
أَرضاً تَمَخَّضُ بالشمـوس سِـواكِ
Your radiant writers are suns; and I see
Your genius minds are brilliant stars – I see
No land but you that brings forth suns.
No ground as fertile for stars as you
منof كـلّevery أَرْوَعَsplendid man علْمُـهhis learning فِيin شعـرهhis poetry
من كـلّ أَرْوَعَ علْمُـه فِي شعـره
ويراعـهand his reed pen مـنfrom خُلْقـهhis character بـمِـلاكِwith a governing principle
ويراعـه مـن خُلْقـه بـمِـلاكِ
Each a splendid man whose learning is in his verse,
He whose knowledge peaks in his poetry
And whose reed pen is governed by his character.
And he guards his nature with principles
جمعhe gathered القصائـدَpoems منfrom رُبـاكِyour hills ، وربّمـاand perhaps
جمع القصائـدَ من رُبـاكِ ، وربّمـا
سرقstole الشمائلَgracious qualities مـنfrom نسيـمthe breeze of صَبـاكِyour east wind
سرق الشمائلَ مـن نسيـم صَبـاكِ
He gathered poems from your hills, and perhaps
Who gathers odes from your hills, and perhaps
Stole his gracious qualities from your east wind's breeze.
Steals the features from the breeze of your youth
موسىMusa ببابكِat your gate فِيin الـمكارمnobility والعـلاand eminence
موسى ببابكِ فِي الـمكارم والعـلا
وعَصاهand his staff فِيin سحـرthe magic of البيـانِeloquence عَصـاكِyour staff
وعَصاه فِي سحـر البيـانِ عَصـاكِ
Musa stands at your gate in nobility and eminence,
Moses at your door in generosity and sublimity
And his staff, in eloquence's magic, is your staff.
His staff for wonders of rhetoric your staff
أَحْلَلْتِyou lodged شعريmy poetry منكِof you فِيin عُلياthe loftiest of الـذُّراthe heights
أَحْلَلْتِ شعري منكِ فِي عُليا الـذُّرا
وجَمـعْـتِـهand you joined it بـروايـةwith the recitation of الأَمـلاكِthe angels
وجَمـعْـتِـه بـروايـة الأَمـلاكِ
You lodged my poetry upon the loftiest of your heights,
You extracted my poetry’s nobleness from yourself
And joined it to the angels' recitation.
And gathered it by the dictation of angels
إنif تُكرميyou honor ياO زَحْلُZahl شعـريmy poetry إننـيindeed I
إن تُكرمي يا زَحْلُ شعـري إننـي
أَنكـرْتُI have disowned كـلَّevery قَـصـيـدَةٍpoem إلاَّكِexcept you
أَنكـرْتُ كـلَّ قَـصـيـدَةٍ إلاَّكِ
If you honor my poetry, O Zahl, I indeed
If you honor, O Venus, my verse, then I
Have disowned every poem but you.
Have rejected every poem but you
أَنتِyou are الخيـالُimagination : بديعُـهُits marvel ، وغريبُـهand its strangeness
أَنتِ الخيـالُ : بديعُـهُ ، وغريبُـه
اللهُGod صـاغـكfashioned you ، والـزمـانُand time رَواكِrecited you
اللهُ صـاغـك ، والـزمـانُ رَواكِ
You are imagination—its marvel and its strangeness.
You are the imagination – its innovations and marvels
God fashioned you, and time recited you.
God crafted you, and time narrated you
Sol 6.1